How To Paint Low Lights at Home?
It’s time to give depth to blondes who want to go a little deeper for the winter months—and we’re here to teach you how! Hand painting lowlights is the simplest approach to alter bleach-and-tones and over-highlighted users who may benefit from a vacation from foils. What’s another reason we adore it? It’s lightning fast!
The lowlight is essentially the darker, more mysterious cousin of the highlight. Lowlights are also more subtle than highlights since the darker hues are put to the hair’s bottom layers, providing depth to your gorgeous locks. Follow these simple steps to save money by skipping the salon and opting for a do-it-yourself lowlights experience.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Want Lowlights?
- Lowlights add Depth and Volume to your Hair Colour.
- They bring life back into Hair after excessive Highlighting
- We like to use them to soften an ombre or break up Warmth in un Toned Hair.
- To add Volume and dimension through Natural Hair Colours.
- To soften a stark regrowth line or when transitioning Colours.
Pre-Lowlight Prep
Comb your dry, product-free hair until it is tangle-free before applying low lighting.
Then separate your hair into four sections.
Keep your lowlights thin and use less than you would for your highlights.
Lowlights should not be stacked on top of one other.
Use a colour that is no more than two shades darker than the rest of your hair for your Low Lights.
Lowlights may be used on both light and dark hair colours.
Lowlights should not be placed on top of your head like Highlights. Use fewer lowlights in the top sections of your hair and more in the bottom sections.
Step By Step Guide
- Hairline Base Formulation Trick
The first stage in hand-painted lowlights is the base application, especially if the colour is being reduced by one to two levels. This lays down the foundation and allows the base colour to oxidise before beginning to melt and paint depth into the mids and ends.
Preventing a Darkening of the Hairline:
The hairline is the most likely issue region, as here is where the hair tends to pick up most colour. That’s why you start with a darker foundation colour on the crown and rear, but as you come to the face frame, you separate out a chunky money piece and convert to a lighter base colour.
This results in a gentler grow-out while retaining natural shine. This is also useful for root retouching.
Pro Tip: Comb the base colour through to create seamless diffusion between the fully saturated base and the Mids.
- How to Make a Formula for Adding Depth with No Filler
Alfaparf Milano Colour Wear is the go-to colour for this method. It may fill up to three levels without the need for additional warmth or fillers. This is critical when working with blond customers who have over-highlighted, porous, or bleached-out hair.
When Should You Use Clear: Melt the base colour into Clear and link the hairline at the neck, aka the hair that pushes forward into the facial frame. Clear also acts as a boundary between freehand-painted parts.
Keep in mind where your natural shadows fall. Using diagonal-back portions around the face will bring brightness forward while putting depth behind it.
- Surface Saturating Method
A variant of surface painting and totally saturating areas is the go-to melting approach for enhancing depth. This provides a range of brightness and depth while leaving natural blonde below, making it excellent for a blonde making the initial transition to dark.
Section Size: The finer the hair, the larger the sections for surface painting should be. It’s possible to have splotchiness or bleeding if the portions are too tiny.
Natural Fall: Use high tension and load the substance on one side of the brush before gliding over the surface to keep the elevation as natural as possible.
Avoid Splotchy Colour: Because the objective is to melt everything together, don’t use anything to distinguish parts. Laying down your hair should be done with care to avoid stains.
Try This Tip at the Shampoo Dispenser: After surface saturating and processing the hair, emulsify it all together in the bowl and process for another five minutes.
- Be Unafraid of the Dark
The colour will fade off depending on porosity, especially for bleach-and-tone regulars. For more lifespan, don’t be scared to formulate deeper. Just be sure to talk to your blonde customers about setting realistic expectations and how their colour care will alter.
- Use the proper shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair.
After waiting at least 24 hours, you can wash your hair with shampoo. It is, however, strongly advised that you use shampoo and conditioner designed particularly for coloured hair. Normal washes can remove the colour from your hair.
You have the option of rinsing your hair in the sink or taking a shower. Wash your hair with cool water, but don’t use shampoo or regular conditioner; instead, use the conditioner that came with your dyeing package. Don’t be surprised if it appears that all of the dye is dripping off your head in rivulets—it isn’t, but it will appear that way. Continue washing your hair until no more colour can be seen flowing down the drain.
If your dying package does not include post-dye conditioner, you may purchase some at a beauty supply store. It should be a conditioner designed particularly for coloured hair.
- Avoid using regular shampoo and conditioner for at least 24 to 48 hours.
- If you used a very temporary shampoo, the colour will wash out of your hair with each shower.
- If necessary, re-dye your hair.
Repeat this technique every 6 to 8 weeks as long as you have enough new growth to maintain your lowlights appearing excellent. To avoid the fried look that may occasionally result from over-dyed hair, let your conditioner in your hair for a full five minutes when showering.
- Avoid UV rays.
It is best to avoid direct sunlight for at least a day after you have dyed your hair. UV rays from the sun can reduce the dyed colour. The same goes for blow dryers–avoid blow drying your hair for several days after the dyeing process.